Danny Trejo interview: what it's like to ride a buffalo

The actor stars in ‘Dead Again in Tombstone’, a classic-style Western with a supernatural twist

“I’m so blessed and life is really, really good,” Danny Trejo says over the phone, in response to a simple “How are you?”

This isn’t merely out of politeness, certainly, and there’s an utter sincerity to his voice when he speaks. With Trejo, it’s hard to think of any other actor working in Hollywood who directs quite the same pure, almost childish joy toward the very process of making movies.

“I love working. I love being on movie sets. It doesn’t matter to me,” he enthuses. “Lead, day player – I love working. I love being on film. I love hotels!”

We’re discussing his latest outing, Dead Again in Tombstone, a sequel to 2013’s Dead in Tombstone; a film that saw Trejo’s Guerrero betrayed by his own gang and killed, before enacting a deal with the Devil so he could return to Earth and seek revenge.

This time around, Guerrero plays the hero’s role, forced to protect a powerful relic from ending up in the hands of Confederate soldier Jackson Boomer (Jake Busey).

Belonging to that delightful, niche genre of “supernatural Western”, it perfectly encapsulates the inherent eeriness of Arizona’s ghost towns, despite being filmed entirely in Alberta, Canada. “It was absolutely beautiful,” Trejo says. “It reminded me of the fields in John Ford Westerns, you know? These huge landscapes.”

Most tantalising for Trejo, however, as an actor who already seems to have done anything and everything in his career, was the chance to ride a buffalo. Yes, a buffalo.

“They’re basically not animals you can train,” he explains. “You know, a buffalo is 2,000 pounds and it was kind of like riding a Cadillac or a Mercedes, and so wide.”

After a swift impression of the creature’s heavy, rasping breath, he launches giddily into the story of his first attempts to bond with the steed: “There’s a picture of me. I was walking up making friends like, ‘Hi, Mr. Buffalo.’ I remember asking the trainer, ‘How tame is he?’ He answered, ‘About as tame as we can get it.’ Oh, that’s encouraging!” The trainer’s only piece of advice? “Don’t piss him off.”

Of course, Trejo’s life has always been far from ordinary; an ex-convict who turned his life around by becoming a drug counsellor, he was asked by one of his patients to help with the rampant cocaine issues on the set of 1985’s Runaway Train. The film’s screenwriter, Edward Bunker, who also served time, happened to recognise Trejo and recalled his skills in the boxing ring, offering Trejo a small role as a boxer.

Then there came Robert Rodriguez. For his 1995 film Desperado, the director searched desperately for someone to play Navajas, an assassin who could terrorise without speaking a single word. Trejo landed the part as soon as he walked in the room. “Robert was so awesome,” Trejo reminisces of the time. “God, I think Robert’s done more for my career than anybody. Especially with Machete, that one really sealed the deal as far as being an actor.”

Not only did Machete (2010) offer Trejo his very first lead role, it also landed the oft-silent actor with his most memorable line: “Machete don’t text”. “I hear that literally in Home Depot, right, from Mexican that can’t speak English who go, ‘Machete don’t text!’” Trejo laughs.

The film landed a sequel in 2013, Machete Kills, which itself ended with the trailer for a proposed third film, “Machete Kills Again in Space”. It’s yet to be made, though Trejo’s hard at work trying to jump-start the project, speaking both to Rodriguez and Mel Gibson. “Let’s go!” he jokes.

And with that whirlwind tour through the life of Danny Trejo – forever thankful, forever seeking new opportunities – our time together ends, though not before a personal invitation to dine at Trejo’s Cantina, one of several businesses he owns and carefully oversees.

It’s hard not to be floored by Trejo’s work ethic, that he can manage a line of restaurants on top of boasting one of the busiest CVs in the business. He’s swift to credit the team around him, from his agency to those who help take care of his home and pets, but his enthusiasm for every part of his life speaks volumes.

The latest outing is Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts; a quick skim of the menu boasts a vast array of intriguing, adventurous Mexican-inspired treats. There are hot sauce-infused, Tequila-flavoured, and dulce de leche donuts on offer. Because nothing is impossible when it comes to Danny Trejo.

‘Dead Again in Tombstone’ is out now on DVD and Blu-ray.

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